Thursday, July
30, 2015
Operation
Dry Water
Education and enforcement directed toward reducing alcohol related
incidents on the waterways.
August 1st-3rd (Long
Weekend)
By the middle of summer, boating is in full swing. With warmer water,
hotter days and many enjoying fun in the sun on their boats, it is the
perfect time to remind Canadian boaters about the risks of drinking and
boating.
Alcohol is a factor in nearly 40% of boating incidents and many Canadians
simply do not understand that there are intensifying factors, known as
“stressors”, such as sun, wind, waves and the rocking motion of the boat
that can greatly increase the effects of alcohol on the water.
There are many vessels where drinking is simply not allowed. Open alcohol
containers are only allowed on boats that are design to be ‘residences’,
with sleeping facilities, a head (washroom facilities) and cooking
facilities. And drinking is only allowed when that boat is at anchor,
docked or hard aground; never while underway.
The laws surrounding when a boater is considered impaired mirror provincial
driving laws. Some provinces have even put in place legislation that
has impaired boating affecting the boaters’ rights to drive their
automobile; being charged on the water equals remedies on land. In
provinces that have not enacted similar legislation, many boaters forget
that “having a few too many” on the water, by extension, may lead to being
impaired while driving home.
In 2013, the Canadian Safe Boating Council launched a campaign over the
first weekend in August called Operation Dry Water. This campaign focuses
on messaging about the potential risks of drinking and boating, the
remedies that are currently in place to discourage the behavior and
heightened police enforcement on the water.
During Operation Dry Water, marine enforcement will saturate high traffic
areas on lakes and canals throughout the provinces, intensifying efforts to
detect and apprehend boat operators who are operating under the influence
of alcohol. As part of this initiative, the media will be provided with
information from the Council to educate their audiences about the dangers
of drinking and boating, its prevalence and the remedies that are in place
to curb the problem.
|
For
further information contact either:
Constable
Jason Michalyshen, Public Information Officer
Constable Eric Hofley, Public Information Officer
Phone: (204) 986-3061 | Fax: (204) 986-3267 | Email: WPS-PIO@Winnipeg.ca |
|
